Handheld Tuners, Late Models, Electronic Fuel Injection

Before The Handheld Tuner
It wasn't long ago when avid car buffs believed that the end of the musclecar era had arrived with the introduction of electronic fuel injection (EFI). With soaring gas prices, the Big Three started placing heavy emphasis on fuel economy over its petrol-thirsty counterparts and began producing much more efficient computer-controlled powerplants that had a hard time getting out of their own way.

Yet, as dismal as the early production electronic fuel injection cars were, they paved the way for the current batch of performance factory rides. And thanks to modern-day electronic fuel injection, cold-start problems are history and today's musclecars churn out more horsepower and burn cleaner than any previous iteration. Take, for instance, the new Gen III LS1 or Gen IV LS2 or the normally aspirated 400hp LS6 engine in the Cadillac CTS-V sedan. Let's not overlook the incredible supercharged '03 Ford Cobra that's already been proven to make well over 500 hp at the wheels with minor upgrades.

While we acknowledge that the newer electronic fuel injection cars will never replace the nostalgic feel of carburetors, it's hard to ignore the fact that these newer late-model street machines are making a statement all their own. What you may not know is that the preprogrammed factory computer features a flash prom, which allows various engine parameters to be altered by connecting a computer and uploading a new program. Initially these specialized tools (handheld tuner) were only made available to factory service centers when minor tuning changes were required. However, in recent years, quality aftermarket tuning manufacturers like Crane Cams, DiabloSport, and Hypertech have produced their own versions of the handheld tuner, allowing users to upload custom programs that can adjust spark and timing for maximum performance.

Keep in mind that power tuning is only a part of the story. Each of the handheld tuners you see here also allows you to alter other Powertrain configuration files like speedometer count revisions to correct for gear-ratio changes. Other aspects include changing cooling-fan operation, raising the fuel cut-off speed, and rev limiters. With automatics, you can even control the shift firmness for quicker e.t.'s in the quarter-mile. While the older musclecars will never die, the newer ones have certainly become easier to work on with these kind of user-friendly products. So if you've been considering a late-model performance vehicle, there really hasn't been a better time to join the fray.

Installing A Handheld Tuner
Using a handheld tuner is easy. Make sure the battery is completely charged, and for a newer car with daytime running lights, it's a good idea to pull the parking brake to disable them. Next, unravel the cable from the handheld tuner and plug it into the factory Data Link or OBD-II Connector (generally located on the driver side, underneath the dash). Once connected, turn the key to the run position, but do not start the engine. After the tuner acknowledges the connection, it'll begin to ask a series of questions to either change the tuning program or to alter other parameters. That's all you have to do.